Shinola

No, New London, Connecticut's Reducers haven't "re-formed" (in either sense of the word), though it might seem that way. Formed in the late '70s, the same lineup found here released three smokin' underground-smash LPs lickety-split from 1984-1985, then all but dropped off the face of the earth, managing only local gigs and a single or two (and the essential "best-of", Redux, in 1999). About five years later, in 1995 (even the Dickies and Boston record more frequently), Shinola finds them in time-stopped vibrant form, as evidenced by their typical, successful mix of rock and pop styles. "Some Other Time" is one of the deftest pop/rockers this side of Velvet Crush at their most reflective, while "San Antone" and others revisit their old mix of early-Clash punk blasts with Ducks Deluxe/Dr. Feelgood/Johnny Kidd pub rock and R&B with smashing production. Not surprisingly, knowledgeable musicians who have rocked this long deliver the goods all but effortlessly, and leaders Peter Detmold and Hugh Birdsall seem as credible, convincing, and as non-jaded as ever. These four people can't have survived nearly two decades for the money or the fame; the absolute love of inspired, hard, buoyant rock & roll exudes from this band, and Shinola is proof that it's great to have them "back" (though they never went "away").